Tips for collaborating with your OB, GI, and therapist for whole-person care
Written by Dr. Antonia Repollet
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Certified School Psychologist
GI Psychology
Planning for pregnancy can be exciting—and daunting—especially if you’re living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or a disorder of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) like IBS or functional dyspepsia. Beyond the typical prenatal concerns, you’re also navigating how your digestive health, medications, and mental well-being fit into the picture. The good news: with the right support, you can build a plan that prioritizes both your health and your baby’s.
A whole-person approach—where your OB/GYN, gastroenterologist, and mental health provider collaborate—can make the process more seamless and less stressful. Read below for some tips to keep in mind when preparing for pregnancy with IBD or a DGBI.
1. Bring Everyone to the Table Early
- Loop in your GI and OB before conception. Discuss disease activity, medication safety, and fertility considerations. Some medications are safe in pregnancy, while others may need to be adjusted.
- Ask your providers to communicate. With your permission, your OB and GI can share updates about labs, imaging, and medication plans. This ensures you don’t have to act as the sole messenger between them.
- Include your therapist in planning. Mental health support can help you navigate decision fatigue, anxiety about flare-ups, and stress about body changes.
2. Clarify Medication Safety & Symptom Management
- Post-flare fatigue isn’t just about inflammation—it’s emotional, too. People with chronic illness report Don’t stop meds without medical guidance. Staying in remission or managing symptoms is typically safer for you and your baby than risking a flare by stopping treatment.
- Review pregnancy-safe alternatives. Both your GI and OB can weigh in on which medications are safe to continue, taper, or swap.
- Identify non-pharmacological supports. Your therapist can integrate tools like GI-focused CBT, gut-directed hypnosis, and stress-management strategies that complement your medical care.
3. Address Whole-Person Concerns
- Nutrition and weight changes. A dietitian or GI-informed provider can help balance prenatal nutrition with GI sensitivities.
- Delivery planning. If you’ve had prior surgeries (like colectomy or fistula repair), your GI and OB may discuss whether vaginal delivery or C-section is recommended.
- Emotional health. Living with IBD or a DGBI during pregnancy can stir up fears about flares, pain, or being a “high-risk” patient. Regular therapy check-ins can help reduce anxiety and increase coping skills.
4. Build Your Support Toolkit
- Track your symptoms. Share logs with your care team to help spot patterns (e.g., flares linked to stress or diet).
- Practice relaxation techniques. Hypnosis, diaphragmatic breathing, and guided imagery can reduce gut sensitivity and promote calm.
- Prepare for postpartum. Discuss with your therapist and GI how to manage potential flares or stress during the postpartum period when sleep, hormones, and routines shift.
Key Takeaway
Pregnancy with IBD or a DGBI is entirely possible, but it’s smoother when you approach it as a team effort. By encouraging communication among your OB, GI, and therapist, you create a care plan that’s not only safe and medically sound, but also supportive of your emotional well-being.
Your health, and your baby’s health, deserves that kind of coordinated, whole-person approach.
At GI Psychology, we specialize in helping individuals navigate the gut–brain connection through all of life’s transitions, including family planning. If you’d like to learn more about support options you can schedule a free 15-minute consultation, and adults with Crohn’s and colitis can enroll in our 8-week virtual IBD Psychotherapy Group to learn evidence-based tools to manage stress and symptoms.